Audio 3:40
Prisoner's art on display in Hobart

Felicity OgilvieUpdated
Tue May 21 21:24:00 EST 2013

An art display with a difference is on show in Hobart - an old convict chapel and courthouse has been transformed into a gallery for the artwork of modern day inmates. The art program has changed the life of one former inmate who is now using his artistic skills to mentor young men who are also at risk of ending up in prison.

Transcript

DAVID MARK: An unusual art exhibition is being opened tonight in Hobart.

The exhibition is of paintings and objects created by inmates from Risdon Prison.

Bizarre though it sounds, the theme of the exhibition is 'true freedom'.

That's inspired pictures of Tasmanian Tigers and birds and for one inmate, a guitar made out of matchsticks.

The program has been life-changing for one former inmate who's now teaching woodwork to troubled kids.

Felicity Ogilvie reports from Hobart.

FELICITY OGILVIE: Former inmate Phillip Littlejohn spent 17 years in and out of prison for gambling-related crimes until an art program run by the Prison Fellowship changed his life.

PHILLIP LITTLEJOHN: They meant everything to me, the art class, once we, 'cause I was at what they call the reception prison, the remand prison, and they meant everything to me because it was my way of escaping.

Like, I used to do artwork in my cell of a night. I used to work on it every night.

So, I enjoyed it so much.

FELICITY OGILVIE: Mr Littlejohn's speciality is woodwork and his handcrafted jewellery boxes are part of the art display at the Hobart Penitentiary Chapel.

The old convict chapel later became a courthouse and guide Brian Rieusset says visitors to the historic site enjoy seeing the display of artwork by contemporary inmates.

BRIAN RIEUSSET: They love it, and they all appreciate the effort that's gone into the artwork and the talent that's there, especially things - even though you can't see it, but - beside us here is a guitar, beautiful guitar, made out of matchsticks. The work that's gone into that is absolutely brilliant.

FELICITY OGILVIE: The state director of the Prison Fellowship, Ray Metcalf says the art program develops self-confidence in the inmates.

RAY METCALF: We had an inmate: he was told when he was at primary school that he would never make a painter. He was told by his teacher that it was a shocking example of art. And yet he carried that throughout his life, thinking that he was a failure, and yet within the last three years, he's self-taught himself, he's now got an amazing affirmation for himself because he's a good painter.

FELICITY OGILVIE: Volunteer art teacher Rebecca Brogan says one of the paintings on show has been done by an inmate who couldn't draw before the six-week course started.

REBECCA BROGAN: She did really apply what I taught her, and I'm very pleased with her work, because she incorporated the instruction that I gave her and has found the courage to even submit a piece as somebody who couldn't draw at all six weeks ago. I'm very proud of her.

FELICITY OGILVIE: In the future Ray Metcalf hopes to also display art done by victims of crime alongside the inmates' creations.

RAY METCALF: I've never seen it, but I think it'll be a very powerful statement and hopefully, start the community thinking about reconciliation.

FELICITY OGILVIE: The former inmate, Phillip Littlejohn, is now making a living from his art. Mr Littlejohn is teaching woodwork to troubled youth in Hobart, trying to give them an alternative to youth detention or jail.

He also runs a mentoring program for the young men.

PHILLIP LITTLEJOHN: It's hard when a young person can't go to school because he's being bullied, and they're on the verge of going to Ashley and things like that and they don't know where to turn.

But this just gives them that avenue where they can express themselves, they can be themselves.

FELICITY OGILVIE: It's a case of art creating new life rather than imitating the old one.